howard foote and charles w



(No Model!) J. H. FOOTE 82; G. W. RUBY.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Nov. 10,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE".

JOHN HOWARD FOOTE AND CHARLES WV. RUBY, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK; SAID RUBY ASSIGNOR TO SAID FOOTE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,034, dated November 10, 1891.

Application filed May 20, 1889. Serial No. 311,399. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OHN HOWARD Foorn and CHARLES W. RUBY, both of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinMusical Instruments; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a mouth-harmonica provided with reed covers of our improved construction. Fig. 2 is a like View of the same from the rear. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections upon lines as x and z 2, respectively, of Fig. 2; and Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views from the outer and inner sides, respectively, of one of said covers detached.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of our invention is to provide for the exposed parts of musical instruments a covering which shall be strong, durable, in-

2 5 expensive, of little weight, and water-proof, and at the same time capable of any desired degree of ornamentation; and to this end our said invention consists in a cover or covers for the parts of musical instruments, con- 0 structed from celluloid and adapted for use substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the illustration of our invention it will be sufficient to show its use in connection 5 with one instrument, which, for convenience,

is a mouth-harmonica A, of usual construction, upon each or either side of which is placed a cover B for the reeds, which cover is constructed from celluloid and is adapted to 0 fit down upon said side around said reeds,

and immediately over the latter has an outward swell, so as to leave the tongues free to vibrate. The raised portion of said cover has, preferably, an outward and rearward inclination or curved form from its front edge nearly to its rear edge, and from thence to said edge has a sharp rearward and inward slope, near the lower end of which latter is provided a row of air-openings b and b.

At each end of the cover B is provided a 5c flat part b, through which, through the end of the harmonica A, and through the corresponding part b of the opposite cover B passes a bolt 0, which operates to bind said parts together; or said covers may be attached 5 5 with pins, if desired. Other air-openings b may be provided, if desired, within the main portion of the raised part of said cover.

The covers B and B may have any desired color or shade, and, if colored, may be lnot- 6o tled or plain, as the material of which they are composed is capable of a great variety of color ornamentation at a trifling increase in expense. They are unaffected by moisture or any ordinary degree of temperature, are very light, strong, and durable, and afiord a better protection to the reeds than do the ordinary metal covers.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is A mouth-harmonica having reed covers or shields made of celluloid, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing, we have hereunto set our hands this 13th day of May, 1889.

Witnesses:

MIRON WINsLoW, ALBERT Sonrrrnns. 

